Atlas V Launch with NRO Payload Delayed

By Jason Rhian, on June 17th, 2012

The launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V with its national security payload has been delayed until June 20, 2012. Photo Credit: Jeffrey J. Soulliere

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla – The launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 401 rocket with its NROL-38 satellite payload has been delayed to no-earlier-than Wednesday June 20. Engineers noted a problem with a duct used in the environmental control system after the Atlas V was rolled out to Space Launch Complex-41.

The failure occurred at the connection point to the Mobile Launch Platform. ULA will roll the launch vehicle back to the adjacent Vertical Integration Facility (VIF).

It is unclear what impact, if any, this will have on the launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket and its NROL-15 satellite payload that is currently scheduled to be launched on June 28.